Medication costs may be a hardship for
some of us diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder; a financial impossibility for
others. Many psychiatric meds are expensive and there is no shame in
seeking available assistance to help with the cost.

First of all, don't wait to run out of
medication before doing something about it! Your first line of
defense is to let your doctor know. He has no idea whether or not you have
insurance unless you tell him. Your doctor has several ways
of helping in such a situation. He usually has a supply of “sample”
medications to help you in the short term and can access longer-term free
medication for you through the pharmaceutical industry. Not having money
to pay for medication is a poor excuse for not taking it.

Remaining compliant to your medication
regime is the most powerful road to mood stability.

Some Sources for
Assistance include the Following:

Many individuals with bipolar disorder do not have insurance coverage to pay
for their prescriptions. There are several kinds of help that could be
explored if one finds oneself in this position;

Many individuals with bipolar disorder do not have insurance coverage to pay
for their prescriptions. There are several kinds of help that could be
explored if one finds oneself in this position;

Ask your doctor. Don't be ashamed to tell him or her that buying the
meds is a financial hardship. He may have free samples, or be able to
get free samples of the drug you need.

Many pharmaceutical manufacturers have special
programs to assist people who can't afford to buy the drugs they
need. One problem is that it's often hard to learn about these
programs. Our goal is to make this information easily accessible.

Each company has its own program with its special requirements,
forms, and procedures. Actually, some companies have different
programs for different drugs. There is no central clearinghouse for
obtaining information about these programs or the drugs themselves.
Some manufacturers will work with patients, others prefer
making arrangements with their doctor.